Children at two primary schools in Stockport took part in proactive road safety lessons in December, as part of efforts to reinforce key messages to pupils.
The visits were part of regular sessions held at the borough’s schools, organised by the road safety team at Stockport Council.
At Banks Lane, a Child Speedwatch lesson was delivered to Year 6 students and was designed to get the children thinking about their own personal safety as a pedestrian, car passenger, a cyclist and also as drivers in the future.
The children looked at factors that might affect a driver’s thinking distance and braking distance, what may affect driver’s concentration and their control of the vehicle and how these may impact upon being able to bring a car to a safe stop.
They had to estimate what they thought the average speed of a vehicle on a local road would be and estimate the stopping distance for a vehicle on that road.
The children then went out of school to record vehicle speeds on a nearby road.
At Dial Park, Year 2 pupils participated in Step Outside which involved crossing roads nearby in a number of different situations, away from parked cars, near parked cars and at junctions. The children learnt how to use their ‘Stop, Look, Listen and Think’ skills.
Year 4 students took part in Headsmart where they considered the importance of wearing a bike helmet when cycling. The children watched a short film, did an experiment using eggs and talked about the benefits of cycling.
The two visits were also attended by Cllr Grace Baynham, cabinet member for highways, parks and leisure services.
Cllr Baynham said: “Each session at the two schools were very proactive lessons in which the children engaged really well, and the team also encouraged the children to talk about the lesson with family members and test their knowledge of the stopping distances.
“It was a really useful exercise in explaining the real-life consequences of road safety and the team do a fantastic job as we feel we, as a council, need to change the attitudes of every pedestrian and driver in our borough and further afield.”
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